Adapting the alcohol and alcohol problems perception questionnaire and the drug and drug problems perception questionnaire: A psychometric analysis of a person-centred approach

Abstract

Background

The Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire and the Drug and Drug Problems Perception Questionnaires were developed decades ago to assess health care providers’ attitudes toward patients who use substances. Although reliable, the language in these tools no longer aligns with contemporary societal and academic discourse on person-centred language. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether modifying the language in the Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire and Drug and Drug Problems Perception Questionnaire to create the person-centered Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire and person-centered Drug and Drug Problems Perception Questionnaire would affect their reliability, internal consistency, and factor structures when used with registered nurses and registered practical nurses.

Methods

In fall 2024, an electronic survey was distributed to 1400 RNs and RPNs at an acute care hospital in northwestern Ontario, with 412 responding (29.4 % response rate). Participants were randomly assigned to complete either the original Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire and Drug and Drug Problems Perception Questionnaire or the revised person-centred versions. Confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory factor analysis were conducted to assess the factor structures of both versions.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis revealed suboptimal model fits for both the Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire and the person-centred Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire. The best-fitting Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire was a seven-factor, 30-item model, and the person-centred Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire was a revised four-factor, 22-item model after exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis for the Drug and Drug Problems Perception Questionnaire indicated support for the original five-factor structure, but a four-factor, 16-item model emerged after exploratory factor analysis for the person-centred version.

Conclusions

Although limited by a small sample size and data from a single setting, the findings of this study provide preliminary support that slightly modified versions of the PC- AAPPQ and PC-DDPPQ may hold promise for use with practising clinical nurses in similar contexts.